SlopAds Fraud Ring: 224 Android Apps Generated Billions in Fake Ad Bids

A sophisticated ad fraud operation, known as SlopAds, has been uncovered, utilizing a network of 224 Android applications to generate an astonishing 2.3 billion fraudulent ad bids daily at its peak. These apps, downloaded by millions worldwide, employed advanced techniques like steganography and hidden WebViews to create fake ad impressions and clicks, primarily targeting users in the U.S., India, and Brazil.

Key Takeaways

• A massive ad fraud scheme named SlopAds involved 224 Android apps with 38 million downloads.

• The operation generated up to 2.3 billion fraudulent ad bids per day.

• Apps used steganography and hidden WebViews to mask fraudulent activity.

• Fraud was conditionally triggered based on download source (organic vs. ad-driven).

• Google has removed the malicious apps from the Play Store.

The SlopAds Operation Unveiled

The SlopAds campaign is notable for its deceptive tactics. The apps were designed to only initiate fraudulent activity if they detected they were downloaded as a result of an ad click, rather than directly from the Play Store. This conditional execution helped the operation blend malicious traffic with legitimate campaign data, making detection more challenging.

Advanced Fraud Techniques

Researchers identified that SlopAds leveraged steganography, hiding malicious code within image files (specifically PNGs). This concealed code, once decrypted, allowed the apps to download a fraud module called FatModule. This module then utilized hidden WebViews to navigate to threat actor-controlled websites, generating fake ad impressions and clicks. These websites often included AI-themed services, leading to the operation's name.

Impact and Mitigation

At its height, the operation was responsible for an estimated 2.3 billion bid requests daily. The primary sources of this fraudulent traffic were the United States (30%), India (10%), and Brazil (7%). Following the discovery, Google took action by removing all identified malicious apps from the Google Play Store, effectively disrupting the SlopAds network. This incident underscores the increasing sophistication of mobile ad fraud schemes.

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Sources

• SlopAds Fraud Ring Exploits 224 Android Apps to Drive 2.3 Billion Daily Ad Bids, The Hacker News.